On Sunday, July 6th, 2014...
The long dreamed of day of my mizuage came, after weeks of secret bidding in hushed tones. Carefully chosen was my kimono, and the poems to be recited during the dances. As for the dances, endless rehearsals preceded that evening.
But truly, years went into the making of this evening, from that day my stepmother urged father to sell me to Matsubaya and I became a kamuro, to the day Higurashi-kaasan of Matsubaya deemed me suitable to become a furisode shinzo, to the day Matsubaya closed its doors and Suigetsu bought us, to today. I am honored by all those who have helped me along the way.
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| fixing my makeup just before the ozashiki, making sure my benibara was applied just right. |
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| standing in the Chinese-style Moon Gate that leads to our zashiki room, waiting for the patrons to arrive |
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| The first arrival of the night, a lay buddhist priest. |
The following two pictures are from the ozashiki itself, but to name names would be indiscreet.
After the ozashiki, Mizumi and I removed ourselves to sit behind the red bars of the appearance room, the sign for the final bidding to begin. It was a silent auction, with no one but the patrons themselves and Kazumi-kaasan knowing the amount of gold being offered. I know only that okaasan was pleased with the sum total.
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| behind the red bars |
Afterward, I returned from the ageya he selected (which happened to be his house) to the yukaku, for a relaxing smoke by the stream with Okaasan, and Mizumi.
And here's a sneak peek from a few days later. My new hairstyle, as a tomesode shinzo, wearing my summer yukata.
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| My new yukata has a motif of asagao! |
